by Juliette (Reale) Felde, November 2016

Uncertain about what to do with your stagnant reference section? Don’t ditch it yet. Dig it out of the last century, give it roots to flourish today, and make it come alive! By watching how our students interact with the learning environment and by being flexible, we can make changes that meet the needs of today’s students.

While watching my students use the reference section, I noticed that they had to physically move from the printed books to the computers for online resources. It seemed difficult for them to go back and forth between the two formats. I pondered how I could make my collection more appealing to my Generation Z students who are accustomed to a mobile lifestyle. At the time, the only connection to online sources I had for users was an iPad on a stand, which I encouraged students to use for “ready reference” to quickly look up information. Today’s learners are attuned to mobile and virtual learning and therefore the school librarian should be cognizant about ways to offer these learning opportunities.

Building the Bridge

After watching an intriguing webinar about Quick Response (QR) codes, I learned that information can be accessed using these simple yet powerful barcodes. A QR code “is a popular type of a two-dimensional barcode. It is encoded with alphanumeric information and can be decoded using a QR code scanner or a QR code scanning application on a smartphone” ("What Is a QR Code?" 2016). It can create a tangible bridge to the virtual world. 

I realized I could use these nifty barcodes to enhance the reference collection by expanding the physical space into the virtual world, thereby giving students a new approach to research. Typically, students  would have to stop using the print sources in their hands, move to a computer (lab) or laptop, and begin another search. Instead, by scanning a specially-generated QR code, students could instantly use their phones to access a plethora of virtual reference materials to complement and enhance the information found on the shelves.

I generated QR codes for our library databases and for relevant e-reference titles accessible through the library media center (see below to learn how to create QR codes). After labeling each code with the corresponding database title, I printed and then physically posted them in the appropriate subject areas throughout the reference section. These codes tangibly and conceptually connect print and online reference materials. Students were able to see the relationship between the information in print and the instant connection to information in the virtual world simply by lifting their hand-held device and scanning the QR code displayed.

QR codes are more practical than ever due to the increased ownership of smartphones and tablets. According to a 2015 Harris Poll survey for Pearson Education eight in ten high school students own a smartphone. This method of blended reference allows users to corral knowledge and information from print sources and online sources simultaneously. 

21^st-Century Skills: Bridging Traditional Learning Environments

The use of blended learning is increasing and for good reason. Today’s students are intrigued and encouraged to learn via incorporated technology. Blended reference sections, as a form of blended learning, allow librarians to offer students the opportunity to further develop their 21^st-century skills and technology literacy with devices they regularly use, such as iPads, smartphones, and tablets. Students, who crave interactivity with their learning environment, can interact with the reference collection using this enhanced reference model. Students will not only have instant access to a world of information online, but will appreciate that the static reference books seem to come alive and have a new purpose. 

Added bonus: students will likely ask “How does this work?” You can then open their eyes to the world of QR codes and all the potential skills associated with their use. Allow students the autonomy to use their smartphones for educational use. Don’t shush your students and tell them to put away their phones, instead create a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) culture where students using their smartphones can connect instantly with information. No cell phone use policy? No problem. If your school doesn’t support a BYOD environment, you can use iPads or another tablet with a QR code scanner, these also give students the advantage of more screen surface.

Masters of Their Own Learning 

The key to reaching today’s learners is being proactive. School librarians have the task of introducing new offerings of high interest through interactive libraries and collections. Librarians should take this opportunity of “going virtual” to be leaders and champions in elearning and mlearning (mobile learning) environment success. The Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative defines mobile learning as “leveraging ubiquitous mobile technology for the adoption or augmentation of knowledge, behaviors, or skills through education, training, or performance support while the mobility of the learner may be independent of time, location, and space” (Berking 2013). The online connection means librarians are providing patrons with the most current and relevant information available.

Librarians should be pioneers leading their libraries into the virtual world. This means school librarians must be willing to evolve in the way we offer access to materials. Librarians are not guardians of books; they are disseminators of information and providers of resources—resources with formats that are constantly evolving. Incorporating QR Codes is an easy way to make researching more efficient and give students a sense of empowerment. Today’s learners will thus become accustomed to mastering their own learning during their school years and after. By incorporating blended learning techniques into school libraries we can do our part to prepare students for college and careers while continuing to meet the changing needs of patrons and shifting trends in learning.